New vehicle laws for 2014

Several new motoring laws went into effect in California in 2014. One prohibits young drivers from using an electronic communications device, even if equipped with a hands-free device. Another requires drivers to maintain a 3 feet buffer zone around bicyclists.

*Drivers under 18

Drivers under 18 years old are now prohibited from using an electronic wireless telephones for communications while driving, even if it is equipped with a hands?free device, according to Senate Bill 194. While use of cell phones by minor drivers was prohibited in 2007, a law passed in 2012 authorizing the use of hands-free electronic devices for texting did not specifically exclude minors. This loophole left the issue unenforceable.

Arguments in favor of the bill included that "California's teen drivers are the most dangerous on the road and that novice drivers need to expend a great deal of manual, visual and cognitive attention to the task of driving."

"Drivers 15?19 years old have the highest traffic conviction, collision, and injury rates of any age group. Traffic collisions are the leading cause of death for teenagers. If you are under 18 years old, your risk of a fatal collision is about 2.5 times that of the 'average' driver. Your risk of an injury collision is three times higher than the average driver's risk," according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles handbook.

The bill passed with an significant majority with State Assemblyman Wes Chesbro and Senator Noreen Evans voting in favor.

*Three Feet for Safety Act

The Three Feet for Safety Act goes into effect Sept. 16. This act requires drivers "to provide 3 feet distance between the vehicle and the bicycle or its operator when passing." It also requires drivers unable to provide the minimum passing distance due to traffic and roadway conditions to slow down to a "reasonable and prudent speed" and to pass only when it will "not endanger the safety of the bicyclist." A base fine of $35 can be levied for violating the new requirement. If the driver violates the act and injures a bicylist another $220 fine can be levied. The bill, AB1371, originally contained a provision authorizing driers to enter oncoming traffic lanes despite double yellow lines but this was stripped from the bill by the Senate.

The current law required drivers to pass bicycles "on the left at a safe distance without interfering with the safe operation of the vehicle or bycycle."

The bill passed with about 70 percent of the vote with Chesbro and Evans voting in favor.

*Vehicle transfers within a family

This new law prohibits the transfer of ownership of a vehicle to a relative or a revocable living trust until all parking or toll?violation fines and penalties reported to the DMV are paid by the transferee. This bill, AB 443, "closes a loophole that allows a scofflaw to continue registering his/her vehicle without paying delinquent parking or toll evasion citations by transferring the vehicle's title among family members," according to the legislative analysis.

The DMV will not renew a vehicle registration unless an owner "pays the full amount of all outstanding parking penalties and administrative fees," according to the legislative analysis. Current law prohibits the DMV from holding new owners of a used car responsible to pay the former owner's tickets. The scofflaws have used elements of existing laws and practices to avoid paying. The City of Long Beach estimated it has a balance of $1.6 million in unpaid parking tickets, according to the legislative analyst.

The bill passed unanimously with Chesbro voting with the majority and Evans not voting.

*Other laws

A bill increased the statute of limitations to as much as 6 years for hit-and-run collisions resulting in death or serious permanent injury. Another allows counties to increase registration fees by $1 for passenger vehicles and $2 for commercial vehicles to fund vehicle theft programs. AMBER Alerts will now be issued for any child who has been abducted by someone, including a custodial parent or guardian, who may cause injury or death to the child.